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What are MAC addresses useful for?
The MAC address (short for media access control address) is the worldwide unique hardware address of a single network adapter. The physical address is used to identify a device in computer networks. Since MAC addresses are assigned directly by the hardware manufacturer, they are also referred to as hardware addresses.
What is unique about MAC address?
The IEEE manages MAC addresses. The hardware identification addresses that the IEEE distributes are unique. That makes the probability of matching MAC addresses zero. This means that it is possible for two machines in the same network to have the same MAC address.
What is the size of MAC physical address?
48 bits
While traditional MAC addresses are 48 bits in length, a few types of networks require 64-bit addresses instead. Zigbee wireless home automation and other similar networks based on IEEE 802.15. 4, for example, require 64-bit MAC addresses to be configured on their hardware devices.
Is the MAC address the same as the physical address?
A MAC address may be referred to as the burned-in address, and is also known as an Ethernet hardware address, hardware address, and physical address (not to be confused with a memory physical address ). A network node with multiple NICs must have a unique MAC address for each.
What do you need to know about MAC address filtering?
MAC address filtering: networks can use MAC address filters, allowing only devices with specific MAC addresses to connect to the network. Device identification: Many Wi-Fi networks at the airport and other public Wi-Fi hotspots use the MAC address of the device to identify it.
What is the structure of the MAC address field?
All MAC protocol data units contain addressing information. The addressing information consists of two fields: the destination MAC address and the source MAC address. Both of these address fields are 48-bit fields; the structure and semantics of the address field are defined in ISO/IEC 10039.
Is the MAC address always in binary numbers?
No matter which style you use to write the MAC address, or an application or networking software uses to display the MAC address, a MAC address is always processed in binary numbers only. NIC converts hexadecimal numbers of the MAC address in binary numbers before processing and using it.